In Pharma screening departments there is a strong need for Ca2+ measurement methods.

Why is this?

GPCRs (G Protein Coupled Receptors) are still major targets of pharmaceutical screenings.

Around 30-40% of all drugs on the market are directed against GPCRs.

Drugs have an impact on the GPCR activity and thus the downstream signal transduction cascade. GPCRs are linked to the activity of heterotrimeric G proteins which consist of alpha, beta and gamma subunits. These G proteins have an effect on PhosphoLipase C (PLC) which leads to the release of Inositol Phosphate 3 (IP3) which finally leads to intracellular Ca2+ mobilization (release from the endoplasmic reticulum ) – Ca2+ finally has effect on a number of further cellular processes.

The fact that GPCR activation always leads to Ca2+mobilization is commonly used to indirectly measure the impact of compounds/drug candicates on GPCRs.

Hematology is the study of blood, blood-forming organs and blood diseases. The formation of blood cells is referred to as hematopoiesis. All cellular components of the blood are derived from hematopoietic stem cells.